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# KDE’s GNOME BOXES Counterpart is in Active Development
- URL: https://itsfoss.com/news/kde-karton-gsoc-project/
- Published: 2025-05-29T11:43:37.000Z
- Updated: 2025-05-29T11:43:37.000Z
- Description: A new virtual machine manager is taking shape for KDE thanks to GSoC.
- Author: Sourav Rudra
- Tags: Development Updates, News, #Import 2025-11-08 21:15

What started as a QEMU frontend for virtualization via CLI is now on track for an ambitious makeover with modern user interface bits underneath. I am talking about [KDE Karton](https://invent.kde.org/sitter/karton/?ref=itsfoss.com), which is set for these upgrades as part of a [GSoC 2025](https://summerofcode.withgoogle.com/?ref=itsfoss.com) project.

Intrigued? Then keep on reading! 😃

**What's Happening:** Being undertaken by [Derek Lin](https://github.com/kenoi1?ref=itsfoss.com), a student at the [University of Waterloo](https://uwaterloo.ca/?ref=itsfoss.com), Karton will be receiving a major overhaul aimed at integrating modern tech to ensure seamless compatibility with recent Plasma desktop versions.

Derek is working on implementing a native KDE user interface using [Kirigami](https://github.com/KDE/kirigami?ref=itsfoss.com)/[Qt Quick](https://wiki.qt.io/Qt%5FQuick?ref=itsfoss.com) and [libvirt](https://libvirt.org/?ref=itsfoss.com) as the backend service to facilitate the creation and management of [virtual machines](https://itsfoss.com/virtual-machine/) (VMs).

**What to Expect:** Currently, Derek has already pushed out [his first merge request](https://invent.kde.org/sitter/karton/-/merge%5Frequests/4?ref=itsfoss.com) that was meant as a proof-of-concept rewrite of the app, with new UI components allowing users to list, view, configure, and install libvirt-powered virtual machines.

Following that, another [merge request](https://invent.kde.org/sitter/karton/-/merge%5Frequests/6?ref=itsfoss.com) was submitted that added management tools for QEMU virtual disk paths and [another one](https://invent.kde.org/sitter/karton/-/merge%5Frequests/8?ref=itsfoss.com) for introducing a domain installer, which uses [libosinfo](https://libosinfo.org/?ref=itsfoss.com) to detect OS installer images and generate the necessary libvirt XML configuration for new virtual machines.

There are plans to add **snapshot support** so that users can easily save/restore VMs, a **better user interface** that utilizes screen space smartly, and a system monitor to display CPU and RAM usage of VMs. Additionally, the installer will be enhanced with more configuration options, such as device pass-through, giving users greater control over their virtual machines.

You can refer to the [announcement blog](https://blogs.kde.org/2025/05/18/gsoc-2025-project-intro-developing-karton-the-kde-virtual-machine-manager/?ref=itsfoss.com) and the [GSoC project proposal](https://docs.google.com/document/d/13cVp2gISwdFwQyPr8tRzERKnerJkGQpMFffLZmmd9bQ/edit?tab=t.0&ref=itsfoss.com) by Derek to learn more about this initiative.

**Suggested Read** 📖

[Hands-On with Rhino Linux’s New UBXI KDE 6 DesktopRhino Linux’s first UBXI port is here!![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/icon/android-chrome-192x192-112.png)It's FOSS NewsSourav Rudra![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/thumbnail/rhino-linux-ubxi-kde-desktop.png)](https://itsfoss.com/rhino-linux-ubxi-kde-desktop/)